The couple, who had two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren were due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary this year.

The court heard that neighbours and passers by tried in vain to get into the back of the house and get to Mrs Mountain.

But after smashing a back window, they were consumed by smoke and could not reach her.

Firefighters arrived at the property to see smoke and flames from the front door, the inquest was told.

They discovered Mrs Mountain, who had worked as a sewing machinist, auxiliary nurse and later a cleaner at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and Wakefield Magistrates’ Court, in the chair.

Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Mark Whittaker, of the West Yorkshire Fire Investigation Team, told the court that fire crews had discovered a cigarette butt under the chair, which they believe caused the arm chair to ignite.

Addressing Mrs Mountain’s children, who were present at the inquest, coroner David Hinchliff said: “Your dad very wisely hid your mother’s cigarettes but it looks as though on that evening she has found them or got a cigarette from somewhere else.

“It looks as though she has been smoking while sitting in the chair and the cigarette has fallen.”

He continued: “What has happened is that your mum has been overcome by smoke and smoke inhalation.

“I don’t say this to cause distress, I say this for the wider population to learn from.

“It would have been a good thing to have some smoke detectors at the home.

“They would have picked up the first whiff of smoke and that might have woken your dad up a little bit sooner.”